First Japan, Then India, Now Vietnam; China Unfriending Everyone

Yesterday we noted that India was preparing to send its Navy into the South China Sea – defending its mineral rights from China’s increasingly vociferous presence. The Philippines also expressed concern. Today, it’s Vietnam’s turn as Reuters reports the nation is condemning China’s “serious violation of sovereignty” as Chinese boats sabotaged Vietnamese State oil and gas company – PetroVietnam’s operations (by severing a seismic cable). The actions stem from China’s ‘belief’ that two Vietnamese-owned archipelagos (Spratly and Paracel Islands) are theirs. While China (who oppose unilateral oil and gas development in disputed waters) argued somewhat comically that “Chinese fishing boats were operating normally,” the Vietnamese saw it as “blatant violation of Vietnamese waters,” and are deploying marine police and a border force to stop foreign vessels. As one analyst noted, “It’s going to lead to friction.”